Pillow for prone posture sleeping



June 12, 1951 c. M. O'BRIEN 2,556,629

PILLOW FOR PRONE POSTURE SLEEPING Filed Oct. 4, 1948 In vezztor PatentedJune 12 1 951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PILLOW FOR PHONE POSTURESLEEPING Catherine M. OBrien, Santa Monica, Calif.

Application October 4, 1948, Serial No. 52,716

The present invention relates to a novel and improved pillowconstruction characterized by complemental pillows coordinated inpredetermined and spaced relation and the object of the invention is tothus provide what I call a prone posture pillow, the same serving topromote comfort, relaxation and to insure refreshing and recuperatingsleep while the user occupies a prone position, lying primarily on andsupported by the weight of the abdomen.

Briefly, in carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention, I haveevolved and pro duced a two-in-one pillow construction char acterized bya pair of complemental cushions of non-allergic soft moltex orequivalent materials, these being separately mounted in individualframes which are, in turn, separably and adjustably supported on asingle base, allowing adjacent longitudinal edge portions of thecushions to be spaced apart, generally in divergent relationship, andproviding a split pillow which is conducive to the circulation of airand which provides an effective pocket for the face and nose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a special pillowconstruction of the kind referred to, the usual curvate or convexsurfaces of the pillow-cushions being such as to provide, betweenthemselves, a suitable space for effective reception of the face of theuser, thus promoting comfort and allowing the sleeper to keep the headand neck in alignment with the spine and conformable to the contours ofthe spinal curves, the non-allergic materials used, in the cushions,being of effectiveness and appreciable advantage to asthmatic and hayfever sufferers.

More explicitly, in carrying out a preferred embodiment of theinvention, I provide a wooden or equivalent base frame and supportduplicate auxiliary frames thereon in superimposed relation, theauxiliary frames being such that they serve to permit thepillow-cushions to be selectively placed and held in spaced positions.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing dw scription and the accompanying illustrative drawings,

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective View showing a portion of a bed,mattress or the like and illustrating a two-Way or two-in-one pillowconstructed in accordance with my ideas.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a top plan view, pillows or cushions removed, showing themain and auxiliary frames 3 Claims. ('Cl. 5-337) and their adjustableassociation and relationship in full and dotted lines, respectively.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of portions of the main orbase frame and one of the auxiliary frames.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary pers ective view of a corner portion of themain base frame.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1, the numeral'7 denotes a bed, couch, mattress or other surface upon which the usermay recline in a prone or other similar restful position. The pillow,instead of being of one piece construction, is of a duplex or two-in-onetype. It is therefore referred to as a pillow construction. Theindividual pillows o'r cushions, which may be called pillow-cushions,are denoted by the numerals 8 and 9 and are dup1icates of one anotherand are of elongated semicylindrical or equivalent cross-sectional formand are preferably of non-allergic soft moltex or an equivalentmaterial.

The invention is intended to be constructed in three sizes, large,medium and small and the frame members or units are constructed ofW00d,,

metal or plastic. The main or base frame is of general rectangular formand is denoted by the numeral l0 and includes longitudinal side membersH and transverse cross or end members l2 and I3 respectively. The crossmember I2 is provided at central spaced points with upstanding dowels orassembling and pivoting studs l4 and [5 (see Figs. 3 and 5). At the topthe cross or frame member I3 is provided with two sets of threeadjusting or keeper sockets It, I! and [8 arranged in suitable arcuatepaths and adapted to accommodate the keeper studs or dowels l9 fixedlycarried by the coacting auxiliary pillow holding frames 20 and 2|,respectively. Said frames 20 and 2|, at the ends where they match withthe pins l4 and I5 are provided with apertures or holes 22 and 23 (notdetailed, see Figure 3) permitting the two frames 20 and 2| to beswingably and hingedly mounted atop the underlying or base framer Thus,and all together there are three frames, a main or base frame supportinga pair of duplicate auxiliary frames, the latter serving as pillowholders for the pillow-cushions 8 and 9. The pillow-cushions are stuffedpartly down into the auxiliary frames or holders 2!] and 2| as shown inFigure 2, thus permitting said pillows to reside effectively in theframes and against normal displacement. The adjacent inner longitudinaland opposed edge portions of the respective pillows are spaced apart inparallelism when the auxiliary frames are lined up with the main frame.The space however may be changed to somewhat V- shaped form byseparating the pillows and pillow holding frames. The adjustment ismaintained by anchoring the pins E9 in the selectively usable socketsI6, I l and I8 as is obvious.

Changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of details and partsmay be resorted to in actual practice, so long as they do not departfrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims, asis well understood.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A pillow construction for face-down prone posture sleeping comprisinga portable rigid base adapted to be placed in a predetermined position.

on a bed mattress or the like, a pair of individual holders superimposedon and hingedly attached to said base, said holders being in the samehorizontal plane with each other, having adjacent marginal edge portionsnormally in spaced parallelism but swingable in directions away fromeach other to occupy divergent positions, and a pair of duplicatecomplemental pillow-cushions corresponding in'size and outline to andremovably fitted on said holders.

2. A pillow construction for face-down prone posture sleeping comprisinga portable rigid base adapted to be placed in apredetermined position ona bed mattress. or the like, said base being a substantially rectangularframe embodying longitudinal frame members connected at correspondingends by'transverse frame members, one frame member being providedintermediate its ends with a pair of adjacent upstanding pivoting studs,a pair of substantially rectangular auxiliary frames superimposed on andnormally confined within the marginal limits of said base frame, saidauxiliary frames having adjacent edge portions in normally spacedparallelism, corresponding inward corner portions of said auxiliaryframes being hingedly attached to said pivoting studs, the remaininglongitudinal member of said" base frame being provided .with sets ofselectively usable keeper sockets, theends of said auxiliary framesadjacent said sockets having keeper pins selectively engageable in saidsockets.

3. A pillow construction for face-down prone posture sleeping comprisinga portable rigid base adapted to be placed in a predetermined positionon a bed mattress or the like, said base being a substantiallyrectangular frame embodying longitudinal frame members connected atcorresponding ends by transverse frame members, one frame member beingprovided: intermediate its ends with a pair of adjacent upstandingpivoting studs, a pair of substantially rectangular auxil-- iary framessuperimposed on and normally confined within the marginal limits of saidbase frame, said auxiliary frames having adjacent edge portions innormally spaced parallelism, corresponding inward corner portions ofsaid auxiliary frames being hingedly attached to said pivoting'studs,the remaining longitudinal member of said base frame being provided withsets of selectively usable keeper sockets, the ends of said auxiliaryframes adjacent said sockets having keeper pins selectively engageablein said sockets, and a pair of substantially duplicate readilyattachable and removable pillow cushions, said pillow cushionscorresponding in general shape and size to said auxiliary frames andbeing removably lodged in position on said auxiliary frames for use andadjustment in conjunction with the latter.

CATHERINE M. OBRIEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES, PATENTS Number Name Date 1,976,326 Carlton Oct. 9, 1934'FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 199,301 Germany June 25, 1908228,181 Switzerland Oct. 16, 1943 548,990 Great Britain Nov. 2, 1942581,530 Germany July 29, 1933 Y

